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An analysis reveals that 59 Labour Parliamentary candidates at the election are members of Unite, while eight have been directly employed or held offices there.

Blairite MPs fear that Mr Whelan is using his renewed influence to try to ensure a smooth 'succession' for Mr Balls, his close ally. Support from the new intake of Labour MPs could boost his leadership ambitions.

Mr Whelan was sacked as Mr Brown's press secretary in 1999 over his role in the home loan scandal that forced Peter Mandelson to quit the Cabinet.

Unite gave the Labour Party £3.5million last year, nearly a quarter of all the donations received.

Conservative Party chairman Eric Pickles said: 'Charlie Whelan is determined to secure an army of apparatchiks to stitch up the Labour Party for Ed Balls.'